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A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to improve the ability of veterans to access medical care in medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and in the community by providing veterans the ability to choose health care providers.
2/7/2024, 9:23 AM
Summary of Bill S 1545
The goal of the pilot program is to enhance veterans' ability to access timely and quality healthcare services. By allowing veterans to choose their healthcare providers, the bill seeks to increase competition and improve the overall quality of care available to veterans.
The Veterans Choice Program Improvement Act is designed to address the challenges that many veterans face in accessing medical care, particularly in rural or underserved areas. By expanding veterans' options for healthcare providers, the bill aims to ensure that veterans receive the care they need in a timely and efficient manner. Overall, the bill is focused on improving the healthcare options available to veterans and enhancing their ability to access the medical care they deserve. It represents a step towards ensuring that veterans receive the quality healthcare services they have earned through their service to our country.
Congressional Summary of S 1545
Veterans Health Care Freedom Act
This bill requires the Center for Innovation for Care and Payment within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a three-year pilot program to improve the ability of veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system to access hospital care, medical services, and extended care services through the covered care system by providing such veterans with the ability to choose health care providers. Under the bill, the covered care system includes VA medical facilities, health care providers participating in the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), and eligible entities or providers that have entered into a Veterans Care Agreement.
A veteran participating in the program may elect to receive care at any provider in the covered care system.
The pilot program removes certain requirements (e.g., location of the veteran) to access care at VA and non-VA facilities. After four years, the bill permanently phases out the requirements for accessing care under the VCCP and Veterans Care Agreements and requires the VA to provide such care under the same conditions of the pilot program. Additionally, after four years, veterans may receive care at a VA medical facility regardless of whether the facility is in the same Veterans Integrated Service Network as the veteran.
